Boomerang

This February, during London Fashion Week, designer Anya Hindmarch unveiled her newest handbag.  Immediately after its catwalk debut, the bag was featured in fashion magazines and photographed in the hands of celebrities all over the world.  Inspired by the movement to reduce waste, the carrier is made out of lightweight white cotton, and only costs £5, or $10.   

The most remarkable part, however, is that the eco-chic tote sold out on Hindmarch’s Web site within hours, and reappeared shortly thereafter on eBay for prices up to £200, or $400!  I have a cotton shopping bag from Albertsons that cost me a whole 10 cents, and I thought that was a bit steep. Novelties aside, San Francisco has become the first city in the U.S. to ban the plastic bag.  Personally, I think it will be interesting to see what sort of solutions people come up with.  I predict shoppers in Chinatown will soon be rolling around mini-wheelie carts like they do in Europe. 

Mission hipsters on the other hand, will develop some sort of cooler, crunchier type of transport; baskets on the front of their fixies, perhaps? The SOMA crowd will enlarge the already popular messenger-style tote, that’s an obvious one.  But what about Richmonders? 

I see the end of the plastic bag as the beginning of a new form of self-expression.  Only having one expansive purse myself, I manage to carry an extra outfit, lunch, wallet, book and extra shoes around every day.  Throwing a few groceries in there will only complement my Mary Poppins strategy.  Looking at how people choose to carry their essential possessions will be like looking into their soul.  My “soul” takes the shape of a black leather satchel.  What about yours?